The Job Interview. Sci-Fi Short Story

^{Image by Michael Gaida at Pixabay}

Jeff secured his bike to a pole and shook his shorts. He took a look at his watch, decided to deliver his package quickly.

The Winstons, the tallest building in town, with more than 15 floors, rose majestically above the other structures around it.

Old Matt was on duty in the entrance. His wrinkled face did not hide his tired eyes, possibly it had been a rather busy night. The smell of freshly brewed coffee passed through Jeff's nostrils, reminding him that he still hadn't had breakfast.

Jeff took out his ID card and ran it over the tourniquet scanner. The green light went on.

— What's up, Matt?

— Working hard or hardly working?

Matt sipped some of his coffee and took a look at Jeff. He adjusted his jacket and put his huge ass in his seat, the chair squeaked again protesting the mistreatment. Matt had been working as a watchman at the Winstons for more than 20 years. He knew all the workers who went in and out, including couriers like Jeff.

— Mm-hmm.

Jeff hastened once he saw that one of the elevators was beginning to close its doors.

— Hold the door, please! — He shouted in the distance

A thin hand stopped the sliding door and it automatically receded.

— Thank you very much, these elevators take too long to get back to the ground floor.

— You're welcome, good man. Replied the lady.

The wrinkles in her smile framed her green eyes.

— You're new in town, aren't you? — Asked Jeff, looking at the visitor's badge hanging from her blouse.

— Why is everyone asking me the same question?

Without waiting for an answer, the lady continued

— My name is Helen and I've just arrived in town. I'm here for a job interview on the 17th floor.

She extended her hand to Jeff. Jeff barely touched the lady's hand and answered:

— Jeff

The elevator staggered a little as it passed the 13th floor.

Helen clung to the handrail of the elevator.

— I thought these elevators were modern

— They are — Jeff answered without paying attention as he entertained himself with a text message.

The elevator stopped suddenly. Luckily, Helen didn't lose her balance because she was still clinging to the handrail. The lights flickered and the darkness wrapped them up.

— Oh, dear! What's going on? — shouted Helen

— Calm down, Mrs. Helen.

Jeff's encouraging words had no effect on Hellen. Her heart was hammering hard into her chest.

Jeff lit a small flashlight attached to his helmet.

The temperature dropped sharply and the elevator floor began to flood.

— Damn it! My new shoes! — Jeff spat

The water took a few seconds to reach Helen's waist, she ran desperately towards the elevator door, splashing everything around her. She clutched her fingernails in the furrow created between the doors. But her attempts were in vain.

— Help me open it — she ordered.

The doors were hermetically sealed. The water level reached her neck. Jeff was calm, attached to the other side of the elevator, the water had not yet reached his chest.

Helen took off her shoes and swam to a corner of the elevator. She leaned on the handrail to reach higher and hold on to a pipe from the ceiling of the elevator. In desperation, she began to hit the walls of the elevator with her shoes.

— Help! — continued Helen shouting

Her anguished eyes rested on Jeff. Jeff brought his index finger to his lips, indicating silence.

Helen didn't understand the young man's attitude. The water drained down her face and as she did so, she perceived its salty taste.

— Seawater? We are hundreds of miles away from the coast

Helen couldn't realize how the young man remained calm.

— Something touched my leg! — Again she shouted frightened

Jeff opened his eyes and seconds later he was swallowed by the waters.

The light from his lantern faded into the depths as if he was sinking into an infinite well.

Darkness reigned again. Helen opened her eyes as far as she could, refusing to blink. It was the same to have them open or closed. Her breath was stuck in her throat.

She soon remembered that her cell phone was waterproof. A useless feature that she thanked at that moment. She decided to let go of her shoes, which still held her left hand. She groped inside her wallet. Finally, she found it.

The temperature of the water was freezing. Her trembling, wet hands made it difficult to find the flashlight application, yet the light from the screen was enough to illuminate the area. She directed the beam to one side and to the other, but could only see the black surface of the undulating water.

Jeff emerged from the water, spitting and coughing loudly. He clung to the ceiling.

A strange sea monster with large jaws full of pointed teeth pulled out its head.

A detonation overshadowed Helen's terrified screams and the monster's brains spread everywhere.

A strange man also emerged from the depths. He shook his beards and long hair. A row of white teeth drew a gentle smile

— All right?

— Jeff?

— All right Arthur! Do you happen to have my helmet?

The strange man stuck his arm into the monster's jaws and pulled out the bruised helmet.

— Here it is

A muted Helen, moving her eyes from one side to the other, didn't utter a word.

Arthur threw the helmet at Jeff.

— I'm sorry, buddy.

— That's a bummer. It's not really mine, it's from the company where I work. It will be deducted from my salary if I don't return it.

The man waved his hands toward Helen and Jeff and disappeared into the depths. The water began to descend and again both put their feet on the floor of the elevator.

The lights went on and a hot vapor came out of the elevator walls.

— We apologize for the delay, thank you for relying on Shindler technology — expressed an artificial voice

The elevator continued ascending. The ding of the bell indicated that it had reached Helen's floor, the number 17 stood out on the elevator screen. The water drained her blouse and her makeup.

— Welcome to The Winstons! — Jeff pronounced before the doors closed again.

A shoeless Helen stopped in front of a glass door and knocked on it.

A receptionist smiled from her desk and pressed a button. The squeal of the lock indicated that it had opened.

The attendant took out a towel and gave it to Helen.

— Have a seat, you will soon be attended to.

Helen sat next to another young woman waiting for her turn.

— You're new in town, aren't you?

Helen took a deep breath and decided to remain silent.

The girl approached her and whispered

— A word of advice: never use the stairs.

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